Mail-bag catcher.



W. J. HERBST.

MAIL BAG OATCHER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 4, 1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. J. HERBST.

MAIL BAG GATOHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4. 1913.

1, 1 17,380, Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

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MAIL-BAG CATCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17,1914.

Application filed November 4, 1913. Serial No. 799,214.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM J. Hnnns'r,

a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag. Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mail bag catching and delivering device.

One object is to provide catching devices, oneat the station and one carried by the embodying simplicity, inexpensiveness, economy, and durability.

i/Vith the above and other objects in view,

the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being.

understood that changesmay be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details without departing from the spirit or sacri: ficing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention showing a portionof a train in horizontal section. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail fragmentary View illustrating the mounting for the swinging catching device carried by the train.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings the reference character 10 indicates aplatform arranged between or adjacent the tracks at a station.

Steps 11 may lead to this platform and ad;

jacent the same is disposed a fixed post 12 provided with upper and lower bearings 13 and 14 for the swinging support of a vertical bar 15. The post may be braced in any suit-1 able manner but, as shown, it is braced by the downwardly diverging braces 12, each having an eye bolt or the like 12 for a purpose presently explained.

Connected to and projecting from the swingin bar 15 are upper and lower arms 16 and 1 which are connected at their outer ends by the bar 18. These arms and said bar are preferably. composed of tubular metal so as to provide for lightness, rigidity and such strength as will permit of the functions intended by the present invention. The bars 15 and 18 and the arms 16 and 17 provide a rectangular shaped frame. This frame is designed to support chain mesh a or other suitable material as shown for the purpose of providing a cage A to receive the mail bag 24: from a moving train as will be hereinafter explained. This chain mesh a or other suitable material is preferably flexible and forms a cage with an open mouth formed by the aforesaid frame.

In the door opening 25 at the side of the car 26is mounted a cage B formed exactly the same as the cage A. The cage B is con-.

nected to a swinging rod 27 journaled in a plate 28 at the top of the door opening 25 and at its lower end journaled in a plate 29 on the sill of the door opening 25. This plate 29 is provided with an annular raised portion 30 having a plurality of recesses 31, there beinga slot 32 formedin the plate 29 and through the raised portion. 30 to permit the lug33 on the trunnionBl of the post 27 to pass under the plate 29 and swing away from the slot 32 when the cage B is thrown outwardly to receive the mail bag 35 as will be hereinafter explained. The lower end of the post or bar 27, immediately above the trunnion 34, has a a plurality of lugs 36 adapted to engagein the recesses 31 to hold the post or bar 27 firmly in its outward position and yet permit an inward swinging movement of the cage B into the car through the door opening 25.

The aforesaid bar 15 carries an arm 37 adjacent its lower end while the bar 27 carries an arm 38 adjacent its upper end. At the outer end of the arm 37 is a clip 39 while at the outer end of the bar 38 is a clip 40.

To position the cages A and B for the purpose of taking and delivering mail bags 24 and 25, the cage A is thrown outwardly away from the post 12. Two springs 41 are attached to the mesh of which the cage A is formed, one at the upper rear corner and the other at the lower rear corner. These springs are connected to the eye bolts 12 on the braces 12 of the post 12. The cage B a carries two springs 42 in the same way and which are preferably connected to the upper and lower eye bolts 43 on either side of the door according to the direction of movement of the train. These springs 41 and 42 serve as cushions or means for taking up shock incident to impact of the mail bags against the cages. There is a plate 44 similar in form to the plate 29 arranged at the opposite side of the door opening 25 for the support of the swinging bar 27 if it be desired to reverse the position of the cage B.

When it is desired to deliver a mail bag to the station and to take a mail bag from the station on to the moving train, the mail bag 24 is positioned by an attendant at the station by connecting the upper end of the mail bag 35 by the flexible connections 35 to the clip 45 on the frame of the cage A and to the clip 39 on the arm 37, of the bar 15. The attendant on the train connects the mail bag 24 by the flexible connections 24 to the clip 40 on the arm 38 and to the clip 46 on the upper frame of the cage B. As the train moves by the station the cage B passes under the cage A. The front bars 16 and 17 of the station cage Aengage the flexible connections 24 of the mail bag 24 and thereby disconnect the mail bag 24 from the cage B snapped into the cages A and B. The chain netting of the cages receives the shock, if any, and, owing to the inclined backs of the cages A and B, the bag 24 may be thrown back of the platform 10 while the bag 35 may slide directly into the train through the opening 25. Ordinarily, the impact of the bags against the inclined backs of the cages will cause the bags to drop on the bottoms repaired and, if desired, in'theevent of wear it is obvious that fabric or cloth which is also yieldable, may be substituted for the chain mesh material or the like.

"What is claimed is: I

1. In a mail bag catching device, a support, a rotatable bar mounted thereon, means for retaining sa1d bar against rota tion, a U-shaped frame secured at its terminals to said bar constituting withthe bar a rectangular frame, a mail bag receiving cage having a rectangular mouth secured to said rectangular frame, the inner side of the mail bag receiving cage being disposed parallel with the support, and the outer side thereof sloping from the support to' the outer side of the rectangular frame, and resilient means attached to the inner end of the mail bag receivingcage and to the support;

2.In a mail bag catching device, a sup port, a rotatable bar mounted upon said support, means for retaining said bar against rotation, a U-shaped frame secured at its terminals to said bar and constituting with the bar a rectangular frame, a mail bag receiving cage attached at its open end to said rectangular frame, and resilient means for securing the inner end of the cage to the support.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM J. HERBST. Witnesses:

ERASTE VIDRINE, CHESTER W, BROWN.

Games of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

